CarneAtlas
Poire

Poire substitutes

What to use when you can't find Poire at your butcher

Poire is the traditional name in France. Outside that tradition, butchers carry comparable beef cuts under different names — sometimes the same anatomical piece, sometimes a close cousin. The alternatives below are grouped by country so you can match what your local butcher actually carries.

France

Araignéeapproximate

Both *morceaux du boucher* — small premium muscles on the round, traditionally kept by French butchers. Araignée is the spider-shaped muscle on the rear thigh; poire is the pear-shaped muscle on the inside thigh. Different muscles, same cultural-identity category.

Merlanapproximate

Companion *morceau du boucher* — both small premium muscles on the round, both historically reserved by French butchers, both quick-cook tender cuts.

United States

Sirloin tipapproximate

Both round-area muscles, but anatomically distinct — sirloin tip is the front-knuckle quadriceps, poire is a smaller pear-shaped muscle on the inside thigh. Poire is the French-butchery boucher's secret, sirloin tip is the broader US/Anglo cut.

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